Parks and rec leaders host conference for Lake Champlain

Burlington resident Bill O'Connor has been enjoying Lake Champlain for 30 years and he's confident that he knows a fair amount about water quality.

"I'm very conscious of different sludge in the river and can spot pollution," said O'Connor.

However, with decades under his belt, he's not as confident in everyone else who spends time near te lake.

"I don't think most people are that aware of it," he said.

That is exactly what community recreation leaders around the lake are trying to fix.

"(Lake Champlain's) health is dependent an everyone's involvement in protecting and stewarding it," said Lori Fisher of the Lake Champlain Committee.

Fisher's organization joined state and local parks and recreation department heads from municipalities surrounding Lake Champlain to figure out how to better get information on water conditions to the public -- and how the public can help them gather it.